Category Archives: B & B Stories

In August, 2004 I embarked upon my journey as an Innkeeper. It’s been twelve years and this year has brought about a tremendous increase in special dietary needs. Probably the biggest issue has been gluten-free. But, there is a lot of dairy-free, soy-free, vegetarian, nut allergies, low fat, whole grains, high fiber, the list goes on… It would be more easily managed if there was just one out of ten with special dietary needs. However, that is not the case. Two out of six this morning. Four out of ten last weekend. Two our of four a few weeks ago. And, they are all different often times necessitating multiple staff in the kitchen. Some of these dietary issues are so severe, the responsibility is frightening. There is probably more food in my fridge, freezer and cupboard that caters to dietary issues than not. Twelve years ago it was mostly diabetic. I haven’t had one low sugar diet in years. Things have changed and so must I.

In the past twelve years, I’ve increased my prices once. I think that was about six years ago. So I struggle with how to cover costs for a business that makes no money other than to support itself. I know, most think it’s a glamorous, easy life. Let me assure you, it’s not. It’s a nice lifestyle, but it’s not an easy one. This old house needs a lot of TLC. Things get worn and ruined and need to be replaced. The gardens, gorgeous in their full bloom, require hours of work each month and I am not even counting the fall. And then there’s winter… shoveling, plowing. Food and utility costs continue to rise, as does marketing and advertising. I’ve resisted paying online travel agencies such as tripadvisor.com, expedia.com and bedandbreakfast.com commission for their assistance in helping to book rooms. That is a game of raising your prices to absorb the 15% or more commission and I don’t want to play, but don’t know how I can resist much longer. I will put my toe in the water this winter with a few rooms and see what happens.

A few months ago we started charging a surcharge for gluten-free diets. A few weeks later I added dairy-free. Then a few weeks later vegan. Today, I have changed it to any special dietary needs that requires us to purchase special food or prepare a separate meal for guests. This $5 surcharge per day hardly covers the cost of food, let alone labor. But what’s the option? Raise prices? Not fair to those that don’t have special dietary needs and being a AAA Four Diamond rated Bed and Breakfast, I am already high for Canandaigua and the Finger Lakes (though others are catching up, even the Holiday Inn Express). Being gluten and dairy-free myself, by choice, I understand not many have a choice. And I feel bad charging guests extra for their struggles. I am empathetic. It’s not fun to always be thinking about what you CAN eat as opposed to what you really WANT to eat. And for some, there are truly severe consequences.

I hope I haven’t offended anyone or deterred anyone from making a reservation at the 1795 Acorn Inn. No matter what your dietary dilemma or if you have none, you will get a wonderful breakfast each morning and meet new friends.

Every spring she nests on the light above the office door. At first I feel terrible as every time I open the door, and it’s a lot, she flies off. Eventually, she stays put. Could be because I talk to her all the time, as she will fly off if others come and go. One day not too long ago I noticed half of a blue shell on the ground. My first thought is that I hope something didn’t get the eggs. My second thought is that they are hatching. Well, this year, she had three. I say she but I think he helps a lot as there are always two around.

It was quiet at first. I caught site of the ugly little buggers not long after birth. Then, their beaks peaking out. Then the constant activity and chirping and feeding. I’ve caught he/she will a beak full of live worms. Many, many times. And now they are off. Until next year, or maybe again this year. It doesn’t take long. Love living in the country and at the 1795 Acorn Inn. Such a wonderful time of year.

Your Innkeeper doesn’t get a chance to get out on the weekends too often but yesterday was an exception. Beth and Lydia were taking care of guests at breakfast. There were no new guests checking in. So, your Innkeeper had a free Saturday and it just happened that it is the weekend of the Naples Grape Festival in upstate New York’s Finger Lakes. I had been one other time in the past 11 years and it was cold and wet that year. This year, the weather could not have been more perfect… a cool 70 degrees and sunny, perfect fall weather.

Naples is a quaint town on the South end of Canandaigua Lake. Home to Inspire Moore Winery, Artizanns (a local Gallery), Joseph’s Wayside Market, Roots Cafe, Naples, NY and a few other shops and restaurants. It’s generally a sleepy town. But, one weekend a year, the tiny town is crowded beyond belief by visitors that want to experience all things grape. Grape pie, frozen grape custard, wine, concord grapes, Niagra grapes and more grapes. And even purple fire hydrants. There are tons of food options, music and many vendors and artists. Your Innkeeper even got a henna tattoo.

For at least a mile or more, vendors line the street, even before you get to the Festival, selling anything and everything… crafts, yard sale items, baked goods. It’s hard to walk as there are so many people. I don’t know where they all come from, but they come from miles to experience this Festival and it couldn’t be set in a more picturesque valley in the Finger Lakes.

Of course, a visit to the Naples Grape Festival wouldn’t be complete without a grape pie and some grapes. This year, I purchased Jeni’s grape pie and some grapes from Jerome’s U-Pick. Both were served at this morning’s breakfast much to the delight of our guests who had never tasted grape pie before. A grape day was had by all.

Look what my wonderful, lovely, thoughtful guests gave me in celebration of my 10 year Anniversary. It made me cry. Thank you Heather, Ginger and Kristin for making my day. Let’s pop open the champagne!

My standard order of twenty five pounds of Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters Out of Africa coffee for my guests. That should last about a week. — at 1795 Acorn Inn. I love going into the facility where they roast the coffee to pick up my order when I can. The smell of the coffee roasting is to die for. Almost as good as waking up to it already brewed after spending the night at the Inn. Coffee is ready at 8:00 if you want to join us. See you soon.

Well, my relief was short lived this morning when we found a poor, little chick on the ground beneath the nest. It was on the brick floor and unfortunately will never know what it feels like to fly. I gently put it in a box and Amanda and I will have a burial service for it later this afternoon. I have to keep reminding myself that this is nature. But it still hurts. There are some things this city girl will never get used to in the country.

On a positive note, just after we noticed that one didn’t make it, another baby was on the ground. This one was hopping around, flapping it’s wings and following mama/papa. There are still two left in the nest and I’m sure they too will soon be taking that leap. Once out of the nest, they don’t really know how to fly. They will spend the next few days hopping around on the ground and learning how to fly. Of course, this is when they are most vulnerable but I think they will make it as we are pretty protected in our beautifully lush perennial gardens.

On Wednesday, May 15, I noticed a little head popping out from under mama/papa. It was still very cold in the morning and I didn’t think the eggs would have hatched yet. But apparently they did. A few hours later Amanda noticed two heads. And a few hours later, we saw her/him feeding them… all four. She or he (I think they take turns) would land on the edge of the nest with a worm in his/her mouth and all four heads would reach out of the nest and chirp for food. It seemed like there were constantly flying to and fro. Did you know a baby robin needs to be fed every 10-20 minutes? With four in the nest, that’s a worm every five minutes. And I still can’t figure out how she/he knows who got the last worm.

Spring feels like the shortest of all seasons and passes with a blink of an eye. Case and point… This is the third year in a row that a robin has chosen nest atop the light just outside of my office door. The first year we took her nest down because we painted the outside of the Inn. The next year she/he rebuilt it. This year she/he made a few modifications and reused the old nest. It’s pretty safe there but wonder why she chooses to lay her eggs there given the amount of traffic in and out the office door.